The Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee met to discuss community grant applications, proposed transport schemes, and local planning applications. The committee approved two applications for Neighbourhood Community Grant funding. They also discussed proposed schemes for the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Programme 2026/27 and made decisions on two planning applications for Orchard House and 25 Blenheim Gardens.

Community Grants Programme

The committee approved recommendations for two applications for Neighbourhood Community Grant funding:

• Kingston Giving: Approved for £3,000 to support their Catalyst Grants programme, which provides small grants to Kingston and North Kingston residents on low incomes for personal development and mental health initiatives.
• Oxygen: Approved for £3,000 to support their Mentoring and Social Action project, which provides mentoring to vulnerable young people aged 10-25 in Kingston and North Kingston.

The Community Grants Programme Committee Report noted that with these approvals, £3,564 remained in the Neighbourhood Community Grants fund for the rest of the year.

Proposed Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Programme 2026/27

The committee discussed proposed schemes for inclusion in the second year of the three-year 2025-28 Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding bid to Transport for London (TfL). The Proposed Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Programme 2026/27 outlined projects aimed at improving the transport network, encouraging sustainable and safer transport, and contributing to the borough's zero-carbon ambitions.

Key points from the report:

• TfL indicated a total allocation of £859,000 for Kingston's core LIP schemes.
• The council submitted a tri-borough bid with Richmond and Sutton Councils for the Better Bus Partnerships (BBP) programme, seeking up to £10 million to improve bus operations within the town centres and along the strategic bus corridor connecting the boroughs. The outcome of the bid is expected in October 2025.
• The council received £100,000 of Safer Streets funding for the Fountain Roundabout in New Malden to support further development of the modelling and engagement. The council will bid for a further £100,000 to continue developing the scheme for detailed design and final approval.

The report detailed several ongoing and proposed projects, including:

• Sustainable Transport Programme: Delivery of engagement events and campaigns, including cycle training and a potential cargo-bike scheme.
• North Kingston Healthy Streets Area: Delivery of a package of healthy streets measures.
• Kingston Hospital Area: Adding pedestrian crossing facilities at Galsworthy Junction and investigating measures to address traffic issues in Manorgate Road and Wolverton Avenue.
• 20mph Review Safer Streets Programme: A rolling programme to review compliance of 20mph roads and identify additional calming measures.
• School Streets Programme: Delivery of two new school streets per year.
• Safer Crossings Programme: A two-year rolling programme to build two new crossings and design two new crossings each year.
• Ewell Road Cycleway: Completing the cycleway currently under construction and designing improved links and wayfinding from Ewell Road to Tolworth Broadway Greenway.
• Kingston/Cambridge Road Cycleway: Continuation of cycleway construction to complete the scheme.
• Richmond Road Cycleway Corridor Study: Commence project start-up to develop a pipeline scheme.

Planning Applications

The committee considered the following planning applications:

Orchard House, West Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 7HA

The committee agreed to approve the application for the erection of a two-storey house with accommodation in the roof, including landscaping and a garage, with the installation of solar panels. This was subject to conditions and delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to finalise the conditions.

Key considerations included:

• The site's location within the Kingston Hill/Coombe Hill Strategic Area of special character and the Coombe Hill Archaeological Priority Area Tier 2.
• The proximity to the Grade II* listed Coombe Conduit House, The Drive Local Area of Special Character, and the Coombe Wood Conservation Area.
• The need to balance housing delivery with heritage considerations and the character of the area.
• The impact on trees and landscaping, residential amenity, biodiversity, sustainability, air quality, and highway considerations.

Several residents raised objections, citing concerns such as overlooking, overdevelopment, traffic and parking issues, and the design not being reflective of heritage assets. However, the planning officer's report concluded that the benefits of the scheme, particularly the provision of a new dwelling, outweighed the disbenefits, subject to appropriate conditions.

25 Blenheim Gardens, Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 7BN

The committee agreed to approve the application for the change of use of an existing HMO (Use Class C4) to a children's home for up to five children, with a manager and up to three carers, subject to conditions and delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to finalise the conditions.

Key considerations included:

• The principle of development, balancing the loss of a residential dwelling with the provision of Class C2 accommodation.
• The impact on the character and design of the area and neighbouring amenity.
• Highway and traffic impacts.

While there were objections from local residents, the planning officer's report highlighted the need for children's homes in the borough, as evidenced by Achieving for Children (AFC), and concluded that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the disbenefits, subject to appropriate conditions. The report referenced a Ministerial Statement made on 23 May 2023, which stated that:

The planning system should not be a barrier to providing homes for the most vulnerable children in society.

Decisions Progress Update

The committee reviewed a Decisions Progress Update on previously made decisions, including updates on the Albert Road Low Traffic Neighbourhood, Birkenhead Road/Gordon Road traffic management measures, Kings Road Area Traffic Management measures, and the Kingston to New Malden Cycle Route Development.